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Injury on final TD mars Buccaneers' win over Texans

Aug 31, 2007 - 3:36 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Paris Warren ended the preseason finale by catching what turned out to be a winning 31-yard touchdown pass.

However, Warren suffered a season-ending injury after suffering a dislocated left ankle on the play in the Bucs' 31-24 victory over the Houston Texans.

"I'm very disappointed his season is over, it puts a stain on tonight's effort," Gruden said.

As Warren was crossing the goal line, Texans cornerback Dexter McCleon wrapped Warren's legs and fell on them. Warren immediately dropped the ball as the Bucs' trainers ran onto the field with 3:09 to play.

Gruden wasn't far behind and, upon reaching Warren, Gruden removed his visor in disbelief. Tampa Bay's entire team soon came on the field as trainers lifted Warren onto a cart and he was taken off the field.

"It was a freak thing; he got pulled down from behind," said Gruden, adding that Warren had made the team. "You saw our team out there, you see how important he was to the team."

Warren finished with seven catches for 110 yards and two TDs.

The Buccaneers sat nearly their entire starting lineup. The only starters to play were wide receiver Maurice Stovall, strong safety Jermaine Phillips and free safety Will Allen.

Several starters also didn't play for Houston, including quarterback Matt Schaub.

Houston backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels saw limited action, going 5-for-5 for 63 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jacoby Jones.

Tampa Bay backup quarterback Luke McCown was impressive, completing 15-of-20 for 203 yards, three TDs and one interception.

After Rosenfels drove Houston for a score on its opening drive, cornerback Jamar Fletcher returned a fumble by McCown 36 yards for a touchdown, giving Houston a 14-0 lead.

However, the Bucs reeled off 24 consecutive points for a 24-14 lead. Kris Brown pulled Houston within 24-17 with a 39-yard field goal eight seconds before halftime.

Jared Zabransky, the rookie who engineered Boise State's upset of Oklahoma in the Tostado's Fiesta Bowl, took the majority of snaps for the Texans.

Tampa Bay's Bruce Gradkowski saw the bulk of action at quarterback for the Bucs in the second half.

Playing a day after his name has surfaced in a federal points-shaving investigation at his alma mater, Toledo, Gradkowski finished 13-of-20 for 141 yards and a touchdown.